1. The
Progressive
Movement

2. PROGRESSIVISM Muckrackers Suffragettes M i d. c l a s s W o m e n
Popul
ists
Labor
Unions
Temperance
Civi l Rights 2

3. Progressivism & the Protestant Spirit
Progressive ideals strong amongst young, Protestant, middle class AmericansLooking to fight the wrongs of society.
Immorality and corruption really bothered them.
Emphasized the simple duties of a good Christian could create a good society: SOCIAL GOSPEL MOVEMENT

4. Aims of the Progressive Movement
1) Return control of the government back to the people.
2) Restore economic opportunities
3) Correct Injustices in American Life

5. Beginnings: The Settlement House Movement/Hull House
What purpose/services did they serve?
Settlement Houses were determined to build a better future, short & long term.
Strong belief that family was the key to moral development
Eliminate prostitution
Set up nursery for working moms
Taught banking
Provided local connections
Employment bureau
Education classes to function in society
Helped get a law passed prohibiting child labor
Eliminate the root of all evil in society - alcohol
Helped get the 18th Amendment passed

6. Step 1: Exposing the Evils: Muckrakers, Magazines, & Realism
Muckraker – Reform-minded writers (and those looking to make a profit) who first exposed social ills of the Gilded Age.
Ida Tarbell—exposed Standard Oil Practices
Lincoln Steffens— exposed corruption in city gov’t with “Shame of the Cities”
Jacob Riis—started the movement with “How the Other Half Lives”

8. Room in a tenement, 1910

10. Bottle Alley, Mulberry Road

11. Greek Children in Gotham Court

12. The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire, 1911

13. Step 1: Exposing the Evils: Muckrakers, Magazines, & Realism
Muckraker – Reform-minded writers (and those looking to make a profit) who first exposed social ills of the Gilded Age.
Ida Tarbell—exposed Standard Oil Practices
Lincoln Steffens— exposed corruption in city gov’t with “Shame of the Cities”
Jacob Riis—started the movement with “How the Other Half Lives”

14. Step 2: Political Action/Accomplishments
Urban &Workplace Reform:
Tenement Act 1901: public hallways must have lighting & one toilet must be provided for every 2 families
Muller v. Oregon: established 10-hour workday for women (1908)
(Bunting v. Oregon (1917) upheld law for men)

15. Government Reform Limits set on campaign spending
Established use of secret ballot
17th Amendment: voters, not state
legislators, elected senators (1913)
Initiative, referendum, & recall
-Initiative: voters can propose laws for legislature to consider
-Referendum: voters can vote on
recently passed law
-Recall: voters can remove elected official from office w/ special election

16. Reforms Toward Social Justice
18th Amendment (1918): outlaws sale & distribution of alcohol (to right social & healthcare ills)
Mann Act (1910): prohibits interstate transport of women for immoral purpose (prostitution)
Women gain right to vote, state by state (nationally in 1920)

17. Women & Progressivism

18. Progressivism Moves to the White House: Theodore Roosevelt “If you could kick the person in the pants responsible for most of your trouble, you wouldn't sit for a month.” - TR

19. Rise to Power Family History Political Resume Childhood obstacles
Harvard education
Political Resume
3 terms in NY State Assembly
N.Y. City Police Commissioner
Asst. Secretary of Navy
Rough Riding President – American Hero
N.Y. Governor  cleaned up Tammany Hall
Vice President of the U.S. (McKinley) President in 1901!!!

20. Progressivism Moves to the White House – Theodore Roosevelt
1902 PA Coal Miners Strike:
150,000 coal miners went on strike
TR willing to arbitrate—mine owners refused
TR threatened to federalize PA coal mines if owners didn’t agree to settle the issues!
First time big government sided with the workers!
-workers got shorter day/higher pay
-owners didn’t have to recognize union

21. TRs Trust-busting
Upheld Sherman Anti-Trust Act (now 12 years old), which outlawed monopolies or trusts that restrained trade (broke up Northern Securities Company, a RR shipping business, and Standard Oil)
Supported Elkins Act (outlawed unfair RR rebates to big businesses) and Hepburn Act (gave Interstate Commerce Commission power to set maximum RR rates)

22. TR’s Philosophy and 1904 Campaign Slogan
TR promised workers, owners, and consumers a “Square Deal:”
Limit trusts
Improve working conditions
Conserve U.S. lands
Promote public health/safety

23. Environmental Conservation
Some historians believe this was TR’s lasting legacy:
Placed 230,000,000 acres under federal protection.
Revitalized dry land under the Newlands Reclamation Act & est. U.S. Forestry Service.

24. TRs Promotion of Health and Public Safety
Upton Sinclair’s “The Jungle” prompted the Meat Inspection Act (required federal inspection of meat) and
Pure Food and Drug Act (forbade sale of food/medicine containing harmful ingredients) . . .

26. Having selected Taft as his chosen “Progressive” successor, TR did what every president does upon leaving office . . .

27. The Taft Presidency The Taft—The Reluctant President
Hand-picked by TR as his successor.
Helped establish the Department of Labor to oversee working regulations/conditions.
16th amendment establishing income tax passed.
Did do some trust-busting and conservation legislation.
BUT he passed the higher Payne-Aldrich tariff against his promises.
AND he wasn’t quite as boisterous/charming as TR

28. Roosevelt Returns!!
Fearful that his Republican Party is not “progressive enough,” Teddy returns to save the day!
The Republicans, however, aren’t sure they want to be “saved” . . .

29. Election
1912

30. The
Candidates

31. The Republican Party & President William H. Taft

32. Keep the Whistle Blowing
Taft was determined to defeat TR and preserve the conservative heart of the Republican Party.

33. Republican Party Platform
High import tariffs.
Put limitations on female and child labor.
Workman’s Compensation Laws.
Against initiative, referendum, and recall.
Against “bad” trusts.
Creation of a Federal Trade Commission.
Stay on the gold standard.
Conservation of natural resources because they are finite.

34. The Progressive Party & Former President Theodore Roosevelt
People should rise above their sectarian interests to promote the general good.

35. The Anti- Third-Term Principle

36. The “Bull Moose” Party: The Latest Arrival at the Political Zoo

37. Progressive/Bull Moose Party Platform
Women’s suffrage.
Graduated income tax.
Inheritance tax for the rich.
Lower tariffs.
Limits on campaign spending.
Currency reform.
Minimum wage laws.
Social insurance.
Abolition of child labor.
Workmen’s compensation.
N e w N a t i o n a l i s m

38. The Socialist Party & Eugene V. Debs
“The issue is Socialism versus Capitalism. I am for Socialism because I am for humanity.”

39. “The Working Class Candidates”
Eugene V. Debs Emil Seigel for President for Vice-President

40. Growth of the Socialist Vote
Year
Socialist Party
Socialist Labor Party
Total
1888
2,068
1890
13,704
1892
21,512
1894
30,020
1896
36,275
36,274
1898
82,204
1900
96,931
33,405
130,336
1902
223,494
53,763
277,257
1904
408,230
33,546
441,776
1906
331,043
20,265
351,308
1908
424,488
14,021
438,509
1910
607,674
34,115
641,789
1912
901,873

41. The Industrial Worker: I. W. W.
The first American labor group to open its membership to all wage-earning workers, regardless of skill, nationality, race, sex, or gender.

42. Socialist Party Platform
Government ownership of railroads and utilities.
Guaranteed income tax.
No tariffs.
8-hour work day.
Better housing.
Government inspection of factories.
Women’s suffrage.

43. The Democratic Party & Governor Woodrow Wilson (NJ)
Could he rescue the Democratic Party from “Bryanism”??

44. The Reform Governor of NJ: It Takes Time to Remove the Grime

45. Democratic Party Platform
Government control of the monopolies  trusts in general were bad  eliminate them!!
Tariff reduction.
One-term President.
Direct election of Senators.
Create a Department of Labor.
Strengthen the Sherman Anti-Trust Act.
Did NOT support women’s suffrage.
Opposed to a central bank.
Ne w F r e e d o m

46. An Actual 1912 Ballot

47. The
Results

48. GOP Divided by Bull Moose Equals Democratic Victory!

49. Election Results
By 1912, 100,000 fewer people had voted for Wilson than had voted for Bryan in 1908.
The 1912 election marked the highpoint of the Socialist movement in America.

50. How did the
election of 1912
change politics
in America
for the rest of
the 20c?

51. The Wilson Presidency: New Freedom
Underwood Tariff of 1913
Reduced tariff rates from 40% to 25%
Trust industries were targeted to foster competition and reduce rates
Federal Reserve Act
Strengthened the banking system by creating a central banking system
A return to the Bank of the United States
Created 12 district reserve banks
Placed a measure of restraint on Wall Street
17th Amendment – (1913)
Establishes direct election of senators

52. The Wilson Presidency:
Clayton Antitrust Act of 1914
Amended the Sherman Anti-trust Act Prohibited companies from buying stock in competitor to achieve monopoly.
Officially legalized strikes, boycotts, and peaceful picketing.
Federal Trade Commission
Received broad power to investigate companies unfair trade practices
Designed to promote consumer protection
Could issue “cease and desist” orders
Other Progressive Reforms
Federal child labor law
Adamson eight-hour law for railroad workers
Non-Progressive in terms of Women & African Americans.